McGroarty & Bradburn Insurancehttps://www.mbbinsurance.com
Pittsburgh Insurance AgentFri, 14 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8How Safe Is Your Parking Lot?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/how-safe-is-your-parking-lot/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/how-safe-is-your-parking-lot/Businesses can be held liable for injuries that occur on the premises, and that includes parking lots. Depending on the type of business you have, the parking lot may be the most dangerous area on your property. If your parking lot is not owned and managed by a third party and is therefore your responsibility, […]

Businesses can be held liable for injuries that occur on the premises, and that includes parking lots. Depending on the type of business you have, the parking lot may be the most dangerous area on your property. If your parking lot is not owned and managed by a third party and is therefore your responsibility, discuss parking lot safety with your business lawyer and business insurance agent.

Our knowledgeable agent at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can help ensure that your business is protected against liability for parking lot injuries.

Parking Lot Problem Areas Business Owners Should Address

The following are common areas to address in a parking lot for the safety of your employees and clientele.

Proper Lighting

Crimes are committed less frequently during the daytime and in well-lit areas, so proper lighting can be an effective form of parking lot security. Better lighting in the parking lot can help protect your customers and employees, not to mention lower your business’s exposure to liability for parking lot injuries. A well-lit parking lot helps prevent not only crime but also pedestrian trip and fall accidents.

As stated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), improving lighting to prevent crime is grounded in:

Situational crime prevention. This perspective focuses on reducing opportunities for crime, while at the same time increasing the potential offender’s perceived risk of apprehension.

Informal social controls and community cohesion. These play a key role in crime prevention. Installing or improving lighting in a parking lot or other area is a sign of positive investment and signals that efforts are being made to increase safety. This may result in an increased interest among employees, customers, and visitors in watching over the area.

Visible Security Cameras

Criminals who know they are being recorded are much less likely to strike. Visible security cameras can go a long way toward deterring parking lot crime.

Security

Parking lot security is often overlooked. This is a major oversight, as the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has reported that more than one in 10 property crimes occur in parking lots or garages. According to the Women-Safe Network, 25% of rapes occur in a parking garage or public area. Posting security guards can significantly upgrade the security of your building, grounds, and parking lot. Although cellphones are common, installing an emergency phone that connects directly to the police can also help improve parking lot security.

Traffic Flow

Controlling the flow of traffic can minimize the risk of accidents by preventing cars from driving in the wrong direction. Installing speed bumps, marking parking spaces with visible lines, and designating separate entrances and exits can help you control traffic flow.

Parking Lot Layout

Your parking lot layout should include parking spaces large enough to accommodate most vehicles, with plenty of room for drivers to easily enter and depart. Well-designed pedestrian walkways placed in busy areas of the parking lot can remind drivers to anticipate stopping, discourage pedestrians from cutting across and conflicting with vehicle traffic, and help prevent pedestrian accidents.

]]>What’s the Difference Between Full and Limited Tort?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/whats-the-difference-between-full-and-limited-tort/
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 14:17:34 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/?p=3197Do you have a hard time understanding the difference between full and limited tort on your auto policy? If you do, you’re not alone. In Pennsylvania, you have a choice between full tort or limited tort on your auto insurance policy. Most states don’t have this option and the policy is automatically full tort. Commercial […]

Do you have a hard time understanding the difference between full and limited tort on your auto policy? If you do, you’re not alone. In Pennsylvania, you have a choice between full tort or limited tort on your auto insurance policy. Most states don’t have this option and the policy is automatically full tort. Commercial auto insurance in PA, doesn’t have a limited tort option.

What is full tort? Tort is the ability to bring a lawsuit against another party if they injure you in an auto accident. In Pennsylvania, you can select the limited tort option on your auto insurance and save 10-15% on your auto insurance. What you give up is your ability to sue unless you meet the “limited” requirements. Some examples of these are a “serious injury”, the other driver is convicted of a DUI or the other driver is from another state. When you select the full tort option, you do not have these limitations.

Is full tort the correct option for you? What do you have on your current policy? We’d be happy to analyze your current coverage and provide you with free proposals from our carriers with whichever tort option best fits your needs. Or if you’re not sure we can explain further and provide quotes for both options. Our goal is to customize an insurance policy to fit your needs and budget. For more information call us at 412-444-4470.

We make insurance simple by doing the work to find the right coverage at the best price, saving you time, money and providing peace of mind.

]]>Do I Need Flood Insurance?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/do-i-need-flood-insurance/
Mon, 19 Nov 2018 15:19:00 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/do-i-need-flood-insurance/You might think you don’t need flood insurance if you live in an area that is considered “high and dry.” Although some areas are more susceptible to flooding than others, flooding can occur anywhere. With heavy rains, spring thaws, or rapid accumulation of rain after a wildfire, flooding can occur in places that are not […]

You might think you don’t need flood insurance if you live in an area that is considered “high and dry.” Although some areas are more susceptible to flooding than others, flooding can occur anywhere. With heavy rains, spring thaws, or rapid accumulation of rain after a wildfire, flooding can occur in places that are not generally considered at risk.

How Does Flood Insurance Differ from Homeowners Insurance?

Many homeowners are unaware that traditional homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. For protection against damage caused by flooding, you will need to purchase a separate flood policy. Depending on the type of policy(s) you purchase, flood insurance purchased through the federally regulated National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) covers building property damage up to $250,000, personal property up to $100,000, or both. Homeowners who take out a mortgage in a high-risk zone are required to purchase flood insurance.

Benefits of Flood Insurance

It doesn’t take a hurricane for a flood to strike your area. Thankfully, an NFIP building property policy covers the cost of rebuilding your home or the actual value of your home, whichever is less. Specifically, it can cover your:

When you purchase an NFIP food insurance policy to protect your personal property, it will provide coverage for items such as:

Clothing

Furniture and electronic equipment

Freezer and frozen food

Washer, dryer, portable microwave, and dishwasher

Curtains and carpets not covered by your building policy

Window AC units

Up to $2,500 for valuables such as art and furs

How Do You Know If You Need Flood Insurance?

Low-risk flood zones are not the same thing as no-risk flood zones. Factors such as changing weather patterns and local dam projects could reduce the risk of flooding in the zone where your property is located, while other factors such as a residential development nearby could increase the risk. To find out the category of flooding risk in your community, go to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Our knowledgeable agent at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can assist you in evaluating your risk and finding flood insurance coverage that is right for you.

How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?

The cost of flood insurance can vary dramatically depending on a variety of factors. While the main factor affecting premium costs is the level of risk according to government mapping data, other factors may also contribute to cost. As with any insurance, the more coverage you need, the higher your premiums will be. A flood elevation certificate may be required to determine the elevation of your home in relation to the base flood elevation level. Location of major utilities and appliances and renovations on the property may also affect cost. Our knowledgeable agent at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can help you determine how much flood insurance you need and find a suitable policy at the best available rates.

]]>Are You an Unsafe Driver?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/are-you-an-unsafe-driver/
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:01:00 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/are-you-an-unsafe-driver/Driving on America’s roadways today is a dangerous undertaking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the U.S. saw 37,461 traffic fatalities in 2016, many of which were caused by driver error. Many people who consider themselves to be safe, dependable drivers actually have dangerous driving habits. Whether you’ve been driving for days […]

Driving on America’s roadways today is a dangerous undertaking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the U.S. saw 37,461 traffic fatalities in 2016, many of which were caused by driver error.

Many people who consider themselves to be safe, dependable drivers actually have dangerous driving habits. Whether you’ve been driving for days or decades, avoiding the following common driving behaviors can help you stay safe on the road and lower your risk of an accident.

Distracted Driving

According to NHTSA, distracted driving claimed 3,450 lives in 2016. This dangerous driving behavior can be described as anything that takes the driver’s attention away from operating the vehicle. The three main types of driver distractions are visual (such as taking your eyes off the road to read a billboard), manual (such as taking your hands off the wheel to adjust the radio), and cognitive (such as taking your focus off of driving to talk with a passenger). Texting while driving is particularly alarming, as it involves all three types of distraction.

Drowsy Driving

Driving while fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times and are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Sleeping drivers are likely to swerve off the road or into oncoming traffic, and they can do nothing to avoid a crash in the moments before impact. If you feel yourself beginning to nod off, either get some caffeine or pull off into a rest area that permits taking a nap in your car. You may arrive at your destination later than planned, but at least you will arrive.

Speeding

It may be natural to want to travel faster than posted speed limits, but it doesn’t change the fact that speeding is a leading cause of both traffic fatalities and tickets. According to the laws of physics, the faster you are traveling, the longer it takes to stop and the harder the impact if you crash. The likelihood of a collision increases if you are traveling faster or slower than the average flow of traffic, so make sure you pay attention to the posted speed limit.

Drafting Tractor-Trailers

Following closely behind a tractor-trailer may increase your fuel economy, but it can also increase your risk of an accident. Truckers can’t see what is directly behind them, so it is dangerous to drive any closer than 150 feet behind a big rig. By following too closely, you could be setting yourself up for a truck underride collision if the 18-wheeler must stop suddenly.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is a combination of multiple bad driving behaviors that are dangerous and likely to cause a crash. This can include excessive speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, failing to yield the right-of-way, and disregarding traffic lights and signals. Even when traffic is sparse, aggressive driving is not only risky, but also extremely rude and stressful to your fellow drivers.

Importance of Car Insurance

It is a sad but true reality that many of us regularly risk our lives on today’s roadways. In 2015, NHTSA reported that over six million traffic crashes occurred in the U.S., 1,715,000 of which caused injuries.

Even if you are a safe and diligent driver with none of the undesirable habits mentioned above, you are still at risk anytime you drive. Another less responsible driver may involve you in a crash, which is why it is so important to have the right auto insurance coverage. Don’t leave your driving future up to chance. Our knowledgeable agents at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can help you find a policy that suits all your needs at the best available rates.

]]>Auto Liability – Do you have the right coverage?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/auto-liability-do-you-have-the-right-coverage/
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:55:01 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/?p=3187Auto Liability is the first part of your auto insurance. This protects you and your family if you injure someone or damage property with your vehicle. The first part is bodily injury liability. This is coverage if your at fault in an accident and the other party is injured. The second part is property damage. This provides […]

Auto Liability is the first part of your auto insurance. This protects you and your family if you injure someone or damage property with your vehicle.

The first part is bodily injury liability. This is coverage if your at fault in an accident and the other party is injured. The second part is property damage. This provides coverage for property that you might damage when your at fault in an accident. This includes other vehicles, homes, buildings, signs, telephones poles, etc. These coverages are important because they protect your assets, salary, property, business that you own, etc. if your found liable in an auto accident..

In Pennsylvania, like most states, Bodily injury and property damage can have separate(split) limits or combined limits. Currently the minimum limit is Pennsylvania is $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident of bodily injury and $5,000 of property damage. These limits are very low and do not provide much protection in the event of an accident. Have you had your car repaired recently? $5,000 of property damage is probably not enough to pay for a lot of bumpers.

If you borrow a car, your borrowing their insurance. But your auto insurance is backup if their limits run out.

What are your limits? Do you have enough to protect your assets if your at fault in a bad accident? People think it’s really expensive to got to high limits, but it’s not. Let us show you your options and the prices for those options.

If you would like us to review you limits and provide you proposals that are customized to your needs, give us a call at 412-444-4470 or fill out the form on our website.

Are You Covered?

We make insurance simple by doing the work to find the right coverage at the best price, saving you time, money and providing peace of mind.

]]>Homeowners Insurance: When Do You File a Claim?https://www.mbbinsurance.com/homeowners-insurance-when-do-you-file-a-claim/
Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:20:00 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/homeowners-insurance-when-do-you-file-a-claim/Homeowners insurance is designed to cover damage to your property caused by certain covered events. It stands to reason, as you are paying your premiums, you should take advantage of available coverage. The reality is, it is not always advisable to file a homeowners insurance claim as it can lead to higher premiums or even […]

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover damage to your property caused by certain covered events. It stands to reason, as you are paying your premiums, you should take advantage of available coverage. The reality is, it is not always advisable to file a homeowners insurance claim as it can lead to higher premiums or even cancellation in some cases.

Underwriters tend to frown on policyholders who make more than the average number of claims. They prefer to continue insuring homeowners who make the fewest number of claims. In deciding whether to file a claim, consider the following:

Don’t claim the smaller stuff: It may not be in your best interests to file a claim for $5,000 or less. A single claim can result in a considerable increase in your premiums.

Take the largest deductible you can afford: Insurance companies offer deductibles ranging from $250 to $25,000. Consider carrying a deductible of at least $5,000. Anything less falls into the category of the smaller stuff that you should not claim anyway. A higher deductible can mean significant savings on your premiums. If your insurance company does not offer deductibles as high as $5,000, take the highest deductible available.

How Does Filing a Claim Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Premiums?

Filing a claim can affect your premiums in two ways. First, your premiums are likely to increase considerably. Second, if your policy is cancelled for filing claims, you will need to find another insurer. This can difficult with a claims history, and you can expect to pay more in premiums and fees. You may have to settle for insurance that protects your home but will not fully cover all the costs of rebuilding.

Why Is It that Consumers Paying for Insurance Cannot Use it without Losing It?

You can use you homeowners insurance without losing it, but only very infrequently and not exceeding the national average for claims. Most insurance companies will not cancel a homeowners policy for only one claim. However, filing a second claim within a certain period of time could have financial repercussions in the form of a higher premiums, possible cancellation, and higher costs with less coverage if you are forced to look for a new carrier. Even a claim that is denied can impact your rates.

How Clean Is Your CLUE Report?

Insurance companies keep track of your claims history in a form that is similar to a credit report. They use the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), which shows all your personal property and auto claims over the past seven years. Every claim that is paid out is reported, and a file is set up for every claim denied.

The more you use your homeowners insurance, the more it is likely to cost you in the future. Although it can be frustrating not to use the coverage you are paying for, it could cost you more in the long-run if you do. Contact a knowledgeable agent at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for guidance on when to file a homeowners insurance claim.

]]>Liability Coverage on Your Homeowners Insurancehttps://www.mbbinsurance.com/liability-coverage-on-your-homeowners-insurance/
Mon, 20 Aug 2018 21:09:37 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/?p=3181Many people believe that liability on your home insurance only protects you when people get injured at your house. It does, but it provides even more coverage than that. Liability coverage follows the members of your household anywhere they go in the US and in some cases abroad. I always give the example if you […]

Many people believe that liability on your home insurance only protects you when people get injured at your house. It does, but it provides even more coverage than that. Liability coverage follows the members of your household anywhere they go in the US and in some cases abroad. I always give the example if you put your suitcase down at the airport and someone trips over it and gets injured. Your liability policy should extend and provide coverage if your sued. This liability is designed to protect you if your negligent in causing bodily injury or property damage to others.
The other liability coverage listed on most policies is medical payments. Medical payments is if someone gets injured on your property but you’re not negligent. We often call it the friendly neighbor coverage.
There is one form of liability coverage that is not automatically included on the homeowners policies, personal injury coverage. The easiest way to describe it is liable and slander coverage. Imagine that one of your family members says something disparaging about a neighbor, classmate or friend that causes them harm. These types of claims have increased dramatically over the last few years, especially with that the growth of social media. We believe that everyone needs and should have personal injury liability on their home insurance. Please review your policy and make sure this endorsement is included, especially if you have family members in your house that are active on social media.

If you would like us to review your current coverage and provide options from some of our 25+ insurance companies, call 412-444-4470 or visit www.mbbinsurance.com

We make insurance simple by doing the work to find the right coverage at the best price, saving you time, money and providing peace of mind.

]]>How to Control Workers Compensation Costshttps://www.mbbinsurance.com/how-to-control-workers-compensation-costs/
Tue, 07 Aug 2018 17:17:00 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/how-to-control-workers-compensation-costs/Workers compensation has become a major contributing factor to the cost of business insurance. Premiums are high for many types of businesses, and the additional costs associated with employee injuries can be staggering. However, business owners are not as helpless as they may feel in controlling the cost of workers compensation insurance. Our knowledgeable agents […]

Workers compensation has become a major contributing factor to the cost of business insurance. Premiums are high for many types of businesses, and the additional costs associated with employee injuries can be staggering.

However, business owners are not as helpless as they may feel in controlling the cost of workers compensation insurance. Our knowledgeable agents at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are available to assist with loss control in several different ways. The following strategies can effectively help you keep your workers compensation costs to a minimum.

Implement a Formal Safety Program

A formal safety program will qualify your company for a discount on workers compensation premiums. It will also help create a safety culture within your organization. A safety culture promotes teamwork, rewards results, and increases awareness of safety hazards. If you implement a Drug Free Workplace program, it can provide an additional premium credit.

Establish a Return-to-Work Program

When a work-related injury causes an employee to miss work, it impacts the employer with both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include medical and indemnity benefits, premium increases, and wages or overtime for replacement workers. Indirect costs involve time spent on crisis management, retraining replacements, decreased production, and lower morale.

A formal return-to-work program makes it possible for the employer to reduce workers compensation benefits payments and gain the production of injured employees, even when they have medical restrictions. Employers that use a return-to-work program may also benefit with significant additional credit on the value of a claim.

Use Medical Providers That Are In Network

Using in-network medical providers can result in significant savings on the cost of medical treatment over out-of-network providers. Keep a directory, by specialty, of all workers compensation providers and direct treatment to providers that help you control costs.

Complete the Annual Workers Compensation Experience Mod Audit

A large percentage of workers compensation Experience Mod Rates (EMR) contain errors. Ensuring accuracy of the EMR is critical, as it has a direct impact on your workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Inaccuracies are a common occurrence in class codes, claim status, claim codes, claim values, and payroll.

Choose the Right Rating Plan

There are many workers compensation plans, many of which reward employers for minimizing claims and maintaining a safety culture. Participating in risk sharing plans, such as Deductible and Retrospective, can provide the best payoff for good performance. These plans often include cash flow incentives in premium and claims payments.

Be Sure to Get Value for Your Premium Commission

Agent commissions on workers compensation policies can range from 5% to 15% of the premiums. Commensurate with the amount of commission, insurance agents can provide a variety of services in addition to placing the policy, including safety and loss control services, claims reviews, Experience Mod Audits, and statistical analysis of claims. When you work with an experienced agent at McGroarty & Bradburn Insurance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, you will never have to pay a third party to provide what is covered by your premium commission.

]]>Backup of Sewer & Drains Coveragehttps://www.mbbinsurance.com/backup-of-sewer-drains-coverage/
Tue, 07 Aug 2018 12:35:22 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/?p=3065Do you have coverage if your sump pump quits working and/or your drains backup? You need to have “backup of sewer & drains coverage” add to your homeowners or business policy to have coverage. This coverage is usually not automatically included on policies, so you have to endorse it to the policy. We see these types of […]

Do you have coverage if your sump pump quits working and/or your drains backup? You need to have “backup of sewer & drains coverage” add to your homeowners or business policy to have coverage. This coverage is usually not automatically included on policies, so you have to endorse it to the policy. We see these types of claims for many reasons:

A sump pump fails. This can because it’s of power failure, it can’t handle the work, or any number of other reasons.

There is too much rain for the drains/storm sewers/septic to handle.

Something clogs the pipes. Could be tree roots growing into drain, something manmade that clogs the drain, or the drain could collapse.

It pays for the resulting damage of a sewer or drain backing up in your house. The resulting damage could be destroyed flooring/carpeting, damaged drywall, contents (furniture, toys, exercise equipment, etc.) and the cost to clean up the mess. It generally does not pay to repair the issue that caused the sewer or drain to back up.

Most companies offer an endorsement to add this coverage to a homeowners policy or a commercial building policy. The limits generally start at $5,000 and could go up to the building limit. Every company has different limit options and a max that they will go up too. Most companies do not go to the building limit, but we do have some that do. With all the storms we’ve had lately, we’ve had an increase number of these claims in the past few months. Especially in June, when it rained extremely hard for about 6 hours and peoples storm drains couldn’t handle the excess rain.

We’d be happy to review your coverage and make sure you have “backup of sewer & drains coverage” on your policy. If you don’t, give us a call and we can quote your insurance with our 25+ insurance companies. 412-444-4470

We make insurance simple by doing the work to help you find the right coverage at the best price, saving you time, money and providing peace of mind.

]]>Property Coverage on a Homeowners Policyhttps://www.mbbinsurance.com/property-coverage-on-a-homeowners-policy/
Wed, 01 Aug 2018 12:32:44 +0000https://www.mbbinsurance.com/?p=3056Do you understand your home insurance? Do you know what property is covered? We can help. Here’s a brief overview of the property portion of the policy. We’d love to go into more depth with you specific policy or quote! There are 4 sections to the property portion of the homeowners insurance policy. We always […]

Do you understand your home insurance? Do you know what property is covered? We can help. Here’s a brief overview of the property portion of the policy. We’d love to go into more depth with you specific policy or quote!

There are 4 sections to the property portion of the homeowners insurance policy. We always suggest replacement cost and special cause of loss for all of these coverages. This is not automatically covered included on a homeowner policy, so make sure you ask.

Building/Dwelling – this is the coverage for the main house or dwelling.

Other structures – coverage for other structures that may be on the property that aren’t attached to the main building. Examples: shed, detached garage, fences, etc.

Personal property – this is coverage for the items inside your home. This coverage can also be called your contents. People often underestimate the contents they have in their home. Common contents are clothing, furniture, pots, pans, tvs, etc. When you think about these items, think about how much it would cost to go out and replace them. After a major loss, insurance companies require people to make a list of their contents. It is generally very hard for people to remember everything they had in their house. We suggest you make a video of your home and store it on the cloud or offsite. Remember to go in every closet and drawer.

Loss of Use – This pays for the extra costs you have after a loss. This could be coverage for a hotel or apartment while your home is being repaired or the extra cost to eat out because you can’t cook in your kitchen while it is being repaired.

Most companies require a replacement cost estimate to be done on your home. This sets the value for building. Make sure you agent provides you a copy for your review. Usually the next 3 coverages are automatically set as a % of the building value. You can increase them if they are not high enough. There are generally a lot of other coverages, sub limits(jewelry, silverware, guns, fine arts, etc.), and exclusion on your policy.

As always, this information is general, and every policy is different. If you would like us to explain these in more detail and find a company with the right coverage for you at the best price, give us a call at 412-444-4470 or visit our website. We’re always here to help.

We make insurance simple by doing the work to find the right coverage at the best price, saving you time, money and providing peace of mind.